Guidance to successful implementation

Statutory guidance issued by the DH details responsibilities and actions to be taken for successful implementation of the Autism Strategy.

Two areas targeted for action in ‘Fulfilling and rewarding lives’ statutory guidance for local authorities and NHS organisations to support implementation of the autism strategy are: improving the way needs of adults with autism are identified, and effective inclusion of their needs in planning and commissioning of local services.

To achieve this, authorities will have to:

• raise awareness and train staff in identifying potential signs of autism; and equip them with skills needed to make adjustments to services, in the way they behave and the way they communicate
• arrange for effective identification and diagnosis of autism in adults, followed by an assessment of their needs for services
• plan services to assist transition from childhood to adulthood
• ensure local planning and leadership of services for adults with autism

Key responsibilities for local authorities involve:

• appointing a lead professional to develop diagnostic and assessment services in their area. The Director of Adult Social Services is responsible for making sure correct processes are in place for carrying out needs assessments, sharing information between relevant parties, and informing people of their entitlements
• compliance with existing obligations to plan for transition from childhood to adulthood, as set out in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice
• allocation of responsibility to a named joint commissioner/senior manager for commissioning community care services for adults with autism.

DH suggests local organisations may want to establish a local autism partnership that sets a clear direction for improving services.

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Autism strategy breaks new ground

England’s first ever national Autism Strategy commits local authorities and the NHS to raising awareness of adults with autism, as well as improving diagnosis of the condition, and making services more accessible.

‘Fulfilling and rewarding lives’, the strategy for adults with autism in England, is focused on helping adults with the condition to live independent fulfilling lives and find work.

The strategy, published in March 2010, includes plans for a National Autism Programme Board, training for health and social care practitioners (supported by £500,000 of investment), guidance on making public services more accessible, plus plans for making diagnosis of the condition clear and consistent.

Among targets to be met in the first year of rolling out the strategy, is agreement of regional action plans.

The strategy will be reviewed in 2013.

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Gathering relevant data

Results from research into the prevalence of adults with autism in England, will be made available to local commissioners to help with planning and purchasing of services.

The study has been commissioned by DH and is being led by researchers at the University of Leicester. Final results are due later this year.

Under the national autism strategy commissioners are required to gather information about the:

• number of adults known to have autism in their area
• range of need for support to live independently
• age profile of people with autism.

Local authorities and the NHS are expected to collect this information as part of their existing duties under disability and equalities legislation.

For effective implementation of the autism strategy, service commissioners will also find it useful to know the numbers of adults with autism in their area who are:

• in employment
• likely to need support to find work
• placed in their area and funded by other local authorities
• placed out of their own area
• in hospital or living in other NHS funded accommodation
• resettled from long stays in hospital or NHS residential campuses, to a community set up
• living at home on their own, or with family members, and not receiving health or social care services
• living with older family carers.

Results from the first phase of the study into the prevalence of adult autism, show not a single person identified with autism or Asperger’s syndrome during a community survey in England, knew they had the condition.

The research has also revealed autism is more common in males, as well as people living in social housing, and individuals without higher educational qualifications.

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Facts about autism

The National Autistic Society describes autism as a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also shapes the way they make sense of the world around them.

It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways.

Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People with autism may also experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. People with Asperger syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language.


Facts and figures

• Autism is a serious, lifelong and disabling condition. Without the right support, it can have a profound - sometimes devastating - effect on individuals and families
• It is much more common than many people think. There are over half a million people in the UK with autism - that's around 1 in 100.
• Autism doesn't just affect children. Children with autism grow up to be adults with autism
• Autism is a hidden disability - you can't always tell if someone has it
• While it is incurable, the right support at the right time can make an enormous difference to people’s lives
• Nearly two-thirds of adults with autism in England do not have enough support to meet their needs
• At least one in three adults with autism experiences severe mental health difficulties due to a lack of support
• Only 15% of adults with autism in the UK are in full-time paid employment
• 51% of adults with autism in the UK have spent time with neither a job, nor access to benefits, 10% of those having been in this position for a decade or more
• 61% of those out of work say they want to work
• 79% of those on Incapacity Benefit say they want to work

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JIP e-bulletin No.21 April 2011

Welcome to our April issue of the JIP e-bulletin, which brings you details of our priorities for the next two years.

We’ve decided to concentrate our support on initiatives that help improve efficiency, and drive up quality and performance in adult social care. We’ll be reorganising the partnership to help us do this and position ourselves as the much needed link between councils and the NHS.

The DH West Midlands programme of support for Putting People First has also come to an end.  We’d like thank our colleagues in the department for the direction and support they have given to us over the last few years.  They have contributed significantly to transforming adult social care in the region – their legacy report is below. 

Finally, we are always keen to hear about your developments and initiatives. The bulletin is the main way of sharing information and good practice– as can be seen in stories from councils in the Update section of the bulletin.  Please send your contributions to Cathie Louis at cathrinalouis@btinternet.com, telephone 0790 8875533. 

Deadline for the next issue is Friday 6 May 2011.

Andrea Pope-Smith
Chair
Joint Improvement Partnership,
Director of Adults and Communities
Dudley MBC

Personalisation, productivity and efficiency

Published by the Social Care Institute for Excellence, this report focuses on the potential for personalisation, particularly self directed support and personal budgets, to result in cost efficiencies and improved productivity as well as improved care and support.

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Safeguarding Children & Adults Congress 2011

Date:     24-25 May 2011
Venue:  Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Road, Birmingham
Cost:     See delegates rates     

This event brings together the main players in the safeguarding arena for in-depth discussion, best practice sharing and networking.

Dr Sheila Fish, Senior Research Analyst will be running a workshop examining the practicalities of monitoring and promoting learning around the safeguarding of both adults and children.

For further information please visit the Safeguarding Congress website.